This is the last post in my series about the Brontë family which Sue Vincent has kindly shared on her fabulous blog, Sue Vincent’s Daily Echo. Anne is the least well known of the three sisters and died the youngest, but her books are also enduring and ahead of their time. Thank you, Sue, for hosting me.
The Brontë family
Charlotte Brontë’s amethyst hair bracelet, Photo credit: Brontë Parsonage Museum, J14, © The Bronte Society
Anne Brontë
Background
Anne Bronté was the youngest of the six Bronté siblings and she was only one year old when her mother died. Anne’s two novels, Agnes Grey, based on her experiences as a governess, and The Tenant of Wildfell Hall, which is considered to be one of the first sustained feminist novels, are both classics along with the works of her two sisters, Charlotte and Emily.
Following the death of her sister, Emily, in December 1848, Anne, who was particularly close to Emily, was grief stricken. This is believed to have undermined her health to such an extent that when she caught influenza over Christmas, she just didn’t rally. In early January, a doctor diagnosed her condition as consumption or tuberculosis and gave her a poor prospect of recovery. Anne expressed frustration at her diagnosis to her friend Ellen Nussey by saying:
“I have no horror of death: if I thought it inevitable I think I could quietly resign myself to the prospect … But I wish it would please God to spare me not only for Papa’s and Charlotte’s sakes but because I long to do some good in the world before I leave it. I have many schemes in my head for future practice –humble and limited indeed – but still I should not like them all to come to nothing, and myself to have lived to so little purpose. But God’s will be done.”
It was during her last days that she wrote the poem, A dreadful darkness closes in, the first three stanzas of which are as follows:
A dreadful darkness closes in
On my bewildered mind;
O let me suffer and not sin,
Be tortured yet resigned.
Through all this world of whelming mist
Still let me look to Thee,
And give me courage to resist
The Tempter till he flee.
Weary I am — O give me strength
And leave me not to faint;
Say Thou wilt comfort me at length
And pity my complaint.
Carry on reading here: https://scvincent.com/2019/12/06/guest-author-robbie-cheadle-anne-bronte/
I knew Anne was buried in Scarborough but I didn´t visit her grave when I was there. Wish I had, Next time. These have been great articles.
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Thank you, Darlene. You and share similar tastes in literature and places of interest which is fabulous.
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Enjoyed these posts, Robbie. I was told of a poem about the Brontes way back when in school, but all I can remember of it is that ‘Anne lies under a dolled up stone’. I tried to find it on Google but haven’t as yet been successful.
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I don’t know that one either, Stevie.
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I am glad you have enjoyed this short series. I have always enjoyed learning about this family.
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You’ve not only given us a feeling for the family, but also the times in which they lived. It’s not so long ago, and yet how different the world is now. (K)
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Thank you, Kerfe, I agree that the world has changed significantly, especially for some women, from what it was in the Victorian era.
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Glad to see Anne getting some of the attention she so richly deserves.
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Thank you. I agree that she is the least well know of the three siblings, but also had a lot of talent.
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A really beautiful poem.
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Yes, an incredibly talented family.
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Terrific, Robbie…I knew none of this!
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Anne is not nearly as well known, John. I learned a bit with the research for this post too.
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Wonderful research and verse. History will never die in literature and poetry!
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Thank you, Deborah. I really hope not.
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I listened to Agnes Grey earlier this year, Robbie, and really enjoyed it. 🙂
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Yes, I like that one too. The other has a bit of a horrible scene in it which I didn’t like much.
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Thank you for coming over with this series of posts, Robbie.
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My pleasure, Sue. I am pleased it gained some interest.
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A good deal of interest 🙂
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Next year, I will write up the interesting information I discovered about the author of Little Women for you. Completely fascinating.
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That would be great, Robbie 🙂
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The hair bracelet is very interesting. While I was visiting Port Washington, WI – I found myself in a museum home – on one of the walls was an odd piece of art. The docent allowed us a few moments to ponder the lovely delicate flowers that were illustrated – and then told us it was made of human hair! My guess is that some nights or even days were very long in the Victorian era with not much of an outlet or supplies –
I have heard also that some folks will have their pets hair cleaned and dander free made into garments too!
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I had not heard about the pets but I can understand it as we get very attached to them. I think people also lived with death continuously at their door. Hair retains its colour and lustre well so makes a wonderful personal memento.
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